Watchmen — Series 1 Episode 6 — This Extraordinary Being — A Review

27th October, 2020.

Right … 

Unemployment has ups, and downs.

Frankly?   I would rather be earning money: rather than getting it courtesy of the taxpayer.

Regardless of how I’m getting any cash … ?

I have to admit: any way I can entertain myself is welcome.

Over the past few weeks?

You’ve possibly noticed that’s included a few TV shows.

Just recently?

I’ve caught up with the recently restored classic Dr Who story, Fury from the Deep.

But … ?

I’ve also been watching the 2019, HBO series, Watchmen: one episode at a time.

Then, usually, completing the review the following day.

Something I’m planning on doing as we speak.

Thus far, though?

Watchmen series one has been very impressive.

Tonight’s episode?

Even more so … !

Something I’ll tell you about, tomorrow.

~≈😵≈~

Opening with a much needed strobe light warning, Episode 6 — This Extraordinary Being — has the traditional summary of previous episodes … 

Then moves to an unnamed FBI office: where Hooded Justice (Cheyenne Jackson*) is being interviewed by a pair of FBI agents … FBI agents who have very incriminating knowledge.

Knowledge they’ll happily exchange for a photo.

All this?   Being aired in the (fictional) series, American Hero Story.

Back in the Tulsa Police Precinct, where the episode is being watched by bored Tulsa police?

Agent Blake/Silk Spectre (Jean Smart) is trying to persuade Detective Angela Abar/Sister Night (Regina King) to sign a consent form: so a medical team can pump Angela’s stomach of the large quantity of Nostalgia she’s just taken … 

~≈😵≈~

The effects of the overdose … ?

Means that Angela starts hallucinating: hallucinating the early career of her grandfather, William Reeves†, as a young man (Joven Adepo).

Shows him graduating from New York’s police Academy: and warned of the Cyclops.

Shows arresting a man called Fred: just as the latter firebombs a Jewish deli.

Shows Officer Reeves bringing Fred in for arrest … only to see Fred freed in the morning.

We, and Angela, see the next few years: how William tries to find out why Fred was freed, how he was almost hung by fellow officers … 

And how, afterwards, with nothing but the hood and the noose he’d been hung with, rescues a white couple from muggers … and being told by his wife, the next day, that the papers have dubbed him Hooded Justice … 

~≈😵≈~

Now … I have to admit, I’ve been glued to Watchmen.

Thus far, it’s proving to be one hell of a series: the writing’s good, the cast are amazing, the world building is something else.

I’ve said that before, and will no doubt say that again.

Episode six, though?

Is simply superb!

This Extraordinary Being is not about the main story or characters, but focuses on the Extraordinary Being of the title: William Reeves, the show’s version of Hooded Justice.

It’s given us an especially rich bit of back story.   And done it as if it were all filmed in one shot: in a way that’s reminiscent of Sam Mendes’ 1917.

It isn’t, of course: only looks that way, after some stunning editing.

Because of that … ?   Because it’s also in black and white?   Because it’s such a beautiful piece of story-telling?

It’s a cliche to say This Extraordinary Being is the best episode of Watchmen, yet.

But?   In every cliche, there’s a large chunk of truth … 

Frankly?

I’ll be watching episode seven on Tuesday, 4th November.

I really want to see if it matches This Extraordinary Being.

*        By a HUGE coincidence?   Cheyenne Jackson appeared in the real world AHS: American Horror Story.

†        The younger version is played by Joven Adepo: the older version by Louis Gossett Jr.